PCB legal adviser extends stay in London to monitor spot-fixing trial

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) adviser Tafazzul Rizvi has decided to extend his stay in London to follow proceedings of the spot-fixing trial that underway in London after the names of former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, his brother Umar, and fast bowler Wahab Riaz came under suspicion over the spot-fixing case.     

Banned Pakistan cricketers Salman Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif are already being probed for their alleged involvement in the matter.

The new players’ names came up when the court heard how the agent Mazhar Majeed, charged with accepting corrupt payments and cheating at gambling, boasted of having “two bowlers, two batsmen and two all-rounders” in the Pakistan team under his control to an undercover journalist.

Rizvi told The Express Tribune from London:  “I had to delay my return after three other Pakistan cricketers were also named in the case.”

“There will be important sessions coming up including the testimony of journalist Mazhar Mehmood. I’ll be observing the trial closely to figure out any possible links of other players with this case. The cross examinations of Butt, Amir and Asif are also going to be crucial,” he added.   

However, the board’s counsel said the Riaz and the Akmal brothers were not in trouble just yet.

“They were just named during the prosecutor’s arguments and he was quoting the agent’s claims. There’s no evidence against the three players and they stand clear,” the counsel added.